John Tyler Janes desires to change his name

Petition on behalf of John Tyler Janes, dated March 4, 1861, received by the House of Delegates on March 8, 1861, Harrison County, Legislative Petitions, Record Group 78, Library of Virginia.

John Tyler Janes, of Harrison County, was born in 1840 and named for John Tyler, the Virginia candidate for vice president that year. In 1861, Janes was displeased with Tyler's conduct during the secession crisis. Tyler served as president of the national Peace Conference that in February failed to find a compromise to reunite the country, and he denounced the recommendations that the conference made to Congress. Janes, his family, and his friends petitioned the General Assembly to change his name to John Minor Botts Janes, in honor of one of the state's most prominent and outspoken opponents of secession. Docketing on the petition indicates that the House of Delegates referred the petition to its Committee for Courts of Justice. The committee did not report it back to the House, and no bill changing Janes's name passed.

Petition on behalf of John Tyler Janes, dated March 4, 1861, received by the House of Delegates on March 8, 1861, Harrison County, Legislative Petitions, Record Group 78, Library of Virginia.Shinnston, Harrison County Va.March 4th; 1861To the HonorableThe Legislature of Virginia.The undersigned citizens of Shinnston Harrison County Virginia respectfully ask that The name of John Tyler Janes may be changed to that of John Minor Botts Janes. For the following reasons1st. The said John Tyler Janes and his relatives are dissatisfied with his present name, he being named after John Tyler in The memorable Campaign of 1840. When they thought Mr. Tyler was deserving not only of the name but of their undivided sufferages. But after The death of the lamented Harrison Mr. Tyler became the President of the United States and proved himself recreant to the trust confided in him. 2ndly: They regard the course persued by John Tyler in the peace Conference by at Washington and his recent course in denouncing the whole plan of settlement, at Richmond. as a just and sufficient cause to make the application.Hoping that your Honorable body will grant the Prayer of your petitioners.JAMES W. JANES. FatherJOHN TYLER JANES SonWM A. JANESHENRY E JANESJASPER FORTNEYV B DAVISD M SHINNJOHN PAUL BIRCHSOLOMON S. FLEMINGJOHN. A. FLEMINGBENGAMIN F SAINTJ. W. [name illegible]B. B STOUTM. P. HALLALBERT SHOERV. B. HALL.D. E. FOREMANBARTIBEY JANESJESSE STERMNEWTON FORTNEYE. W. CLARKM. H. FLEMINGB. TYSON HARNERG. H. PREVINJOHN A. OGDENG.W SIERS